Introducing the reformer pilates classes that only cost $5

There's no denying reformer pilates has gotten huge over the years, and the rise of social media like TikTok proves that its for more than just the girlies. The prominence of videos like football stars or tradies being put in their place by trialling the stereotypical "girls'" exercise has only led to the exercise format getting more popular, and if you're part of any gym that offers reformer classes, you'll know just how quickly it books out.

And then there's the studios: while studios like BodyMindLife, KX, Studio Pilates, and OneHotYoga offer memberships they often come at a pretty hefty price tag, which can range anywhere between $25 - $45 a class, and 10-packs well over $200. I'd give you the exact price but most of the studios are pretty good at hiding their prices, until you're chatting to them. It's how they lure you in. Sneaky!

The affordable reformer pilates alternative

Enter Pronto Pilates: the pilates studio that is new to Sydney, but can also be found dotted across most Australian states including WA, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. And the real exciting part? The classes can be as cheap as $5 a pop.

Yep, that's cheaper than a double-shot oat latte these days.

The catch? Pronto is a tech-enabled, teacher-less studio model where the classes are delivered on screens, without an instructor physically there telling you what to do or correcting your form. The membership plans are super casual and flexible, with no lock-in contracts, with the studio offering the following three plans: casual, at $55 per month that offers five class credits at $11 per class, a lifestyle plan that offers 11 class credits, for $77 a month, bringing each class to $7 each, and an enthusiast plan that is $99 per month and offers 30 class credits, making each class only $5.

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Reformer pilates without the 'elitism'

Emma Shelton, co-founder of Pronto Pilates, told Yahoo Lifestyle that the idea came from her business partner Steve Anson who "recognised how elitist and unaffordable Pilates was for many people."

Emma, who had been running a pilates studio, met Steve when he was a client of hers and because of his background in tech and marketing, he came up with the concept of delivering on-screen classes, all day, every day.

"He pitched the idea to me and although it was essentially putting me out of my job as an in-person instructor, I was excited by the vision of making pilates more affordable, accessible and convenient to a lot more people," Emma said. "Together we launched Pronto, opening our first studio in Cottesloe, Perth in December 2022. Since then, it has taken off and we’re growing rapidly, with our 15th studio opening, proving there is a huge market for affordable in-studio pilates classes!

The pros and cons of teacher-less classes

Emma said there's a lot of pros to the pilates format, saying having on-screen instructors provides a consistency and predictability, with every class is delivered exactly as planned and on time.

"This predictability also extends to the cueing and structure of the classes, making them easy to follow and far less intimidating, especially for beginners. Another benefit is that members don’t feel the pressure of performing in front of a live instructor or other participants which allows them to work at their own pace and focus on how their body feels," Emma told Yahoo Lifestyle.

"As for cons - there’s no real-time feedback which can of course be helpful for correcting form, but we address this by offering detailed cues and progressions to guide members through each move safely and effectively."

What it's like to do a Pronto Pilates class

So what is it like to actually do a class? I tested it out for research purposes at the brand new Neutral Bay studio in Sydney.

I found the format relatively easy to follow and given that classes can be as little as $5 a pop, if a studio was located close to me, I'd definitely be trialling it out on a regular basis. The instructions were clear and if you've followed a TV format before, like Studio Pilates, it will all seem pretty seamless — if you're used to teachers showing you the moves, it may be a slight adjustment.

I'd also recommend if you're keen to give it a go but a newbie to Pilates, it could be worth getting a few in person instructed lessons under your belt first.

The studio was absolutely beautiful and the equipment was also top-notch, including the pilates bed, which I loved given the fact my usual gym has reformer machines sometimes looking a little worse for wear.

My one critique would be the lack of mirrors in studio makes it hard to see if you're in alignment, and when you're craning your neck up to the TV if you've missed an instruction and trying to follow it, it's easy to miss out on some repetitions/pacing while you adjust yourself. But would I try it again, especially for as cheap as $5 a class? Absolutely. If you're a pilates girlie (or guy) on a budget, this is perfect for you!

Find out more about Pronto Pilates here.

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